By Paul Pratt
The Breeding Bird Atlas project is underway and it is time to start recording observations of breeding activity. Most birds don’t begin to nest until May and June but there are some birds that like to get an early start. Here is a short list of birds that may provide early breeding evidence. Register as an atlas participant and submit your observations through the Atlas website at www.birdsontario.org
There is a free NatureCounts phone app available for easy recording of breeding evidence and atlassing effort and the Atlas website provides a complete set of instructions and help files on how to participate.
If you have any questions drop a note to Paul Pratt or Karen Cedar at
Here are species recorded with breeding activity in March:
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Woodcock
Bald Eagle
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Horned Lark
Birds beginning to nest in April include:
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Ring-necked Pheasant
Herring Gull
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling
Carolina Wren
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
Northern Cardinal
The large stick nests used by Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks and old nests used by Great Horned Owls are easier to spot before spring leaf out.